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NOTES 



History of Marlborough 



Compiled by J. A. Pitman 



SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS 




MARLIJOROIKJH, MASS. : 

TIMES PUBLISHING COMPANY 
1905. 






These notes on local history are based on Hudson's 
History of Marlborough, but all other available authorities 
have been freely consulted. A considerble part of the work 
of selecting and condensing this matter has been performed 
by Miss Orissa W. Gleason. Valuable contributions to this 
work have also been received from Mrs. J. V. Jackman. 

Marlborough, Mass., Jan. i, 1905. 






COURSE IX HISTORY. 



Local History. 



GRADE V. 



The town of Sudbury, of which Marlliorough was once n 
part, was incorporated as a town in 163'J. In 1645, Sudbury 
being one of the exposed frontier towns, the General Court 
ordered that no person should remove from the town without 
permission from the selectmen. On account of this order, 
portions of land were continually added to Sudbury. 

In May, 1656, several of the leading inhabitants of Sudbury 
sent a petition to the General Court asking that they and their 
families be allowed to remove to a place eight miles west of 
Sudbury for the purpose of forming a new plantation. The 
granting of this petition was the beginning of the City of Marl- 
borough. Following is a 

COPY OF THE PETITION. 

"To the Hon. Governor, Dep. Governor, Magistrates and 
Deputies of the General Court now assembled in Boston. 
"The Humble Petition of several of the inhabitants of Sud- 
bury, whose names are here underwritten showeth : — That 
whereas your Petitioners have lived divers years in Svidbury, and 
God hath been pleased to increase our children, which are now 
divers of them grown to man's estate : and wee, many of us 
grown into years, so that wee should bee glad to see them settled 
before the Lord take us away from hence, as also God having 
given us some considerable quantity of cattle so that wee are so 
straightened that wee cannot so comfortably subsist as could be 
desired ; and some of iis haying taken some pains to view the 



COURSE IX HISTORY. 



countr\- : \vcc lia\ e fouiul a place which lycth westward about 
ei^^ht miles from Sudbury, which wee conceive might be com- 
fortable for our su bsistence. 

^'It is therefore the humble request of yo"'' Petitioners to 
this Hon'd Court, that you would be pleased to grant unto us 
eight miles square for to make a plantation. 

"If it shall please this Hon'd Court to grant our Petition, it 
is further then the request of your Petitioners to this Hon'd 
Court, that you will be pleased to appoint Mr. Thomas Banforth, 
or Liestenul Fisher to lay out the bounds of the Plantation, and 
we shall satisfy those whom this Hon'd Court shall please to 
employ in it. 

"So apprehending this weighty occasion, we shall no further 
trouble this Hon'tl Court but shall ever pray for your happiness 
Edmund Rice. Thomas Goodnow. John Bent Seu'r* 

William Ward. John Ruddocke. John Maynard. 

Thomas King. Henry Rice. Richard Newton. 

John Woods. John Howe. Peter Bent. 

Edward Rice. 

A portion of the land asked for by the Sudbury people had 
already been granted to the Indians, upon the petition of the 
Apostle Eliot in their behalf, and the General Court granted 
permission to the Sudbury men to form a plantation on such a 
part of the land asked for as was not already in possession of the 
Indians, provided that twenty or more families should be settled 
there within three years. These conditions were accepted by 
the .Sudbury men, and the plantation was laid out by Edward 
Jackson, Thomas Danforth, Ephraim Child and Capt. Lusher.. 

The plantation laid out for the Indians was known by the- 
name of Ochoocangansett ^nd was situated in the northeasterly 
section of the present city and included the- hill, back of the High 
School Common and, in fact, the Common itself. The Indian, 
Planting Field consisted of some one hundred and fifty acres 
located on the hill back of the Common. The plantation 
extended north and east about three miles and conjoined about 
six thousand acres in a wild and uncultivated state. 

The English plantation was situated to the AQUth and west 
of the Indian plantation and includ§d the pjr^sent towns of^ 
Northboro, Southbpro an(l Westboro; 



COURSE IN JIISTORY. 



Having obtained the grant of the township which they 
called Whipsufferage or Whipsupernicke, they held their first 
town-meeting on the 25th of September, 1656. The number of 
inhabitants increased rapidly during the next four years, and, on 
June 12, 1660, the plantation was incorporated as a town and 
named Marlborough. It was first spelled Marlboro. The 
name is supposed to have been taken from Marlborough in 
England, formerly written Marlberg or Marlbridge from the 
chalk hills which surround it. 

At this first town-meeting Edward Rice, William Ward, 
John Ruddocke, John Howe, Thomas King, Solomon Johnson, 
and Thomas Goodnow were elected selectmen, and John Rud- 
docke was made town clerk. 

Having assigned house lots to all proprietors, it was voted 
on February 10th, 1662, that all unoccupied lands, except eighty 
acres of upland, should remain a perpetual cow common for the 
use of the town. Under this arrangement it was found neces- 
sary to brand the cattle so that they could be identified. Each 
person had a mark of his own, but the town oflicials thought it 
wise to have a town mark, so that when cattle wandered to a 
distance it might be known in what town they belonged. The 
General Court, therefore, authorized the following mark, "M.' 
In November, 1709, a petition was sent to the General Court 
asking permission to divide this land, and it was granted. 

Every Puritan settlement desired at once to have a spiritual 
adviser and preacher, and consequently the Rev. William Brims- 
mead was selected as the first minister. In April, 1661, a house 
was built for him, Obadiah Ward, Christopher Banister and 
Richard Barnes being employed by the town to build it. They 
were paid in corn, wheat, and rye, fifteen pounds of each to be 
paid at stated intervals as the work progressed. The house was 
given to Mr. Brimsmead "to be his and his heirs and assigns 
forever." Mr. Brimsmead was greatly respected by his people, 
and was paid the liberal salary of forty pounds a year. Some 
trouble caused him to renipye to Plymoiith for a time, but he 



roURSE IN HISTORY. 



afterward returned to Marlborough and remained for thirty-five 
years. He died July 3, 1701, aged 76 years. He was buried 
in the old cemetery back of the High School Common, and an 
unlettered stone marks his resting place. 

Having provided a house for the minister, they next built a 
meeting-house on the spot where the present High School Build- 
ing stands. This was within the limits of the Indian Planting 
?'ield, and was one of the sources of hostile feeling on the part 
of the Indians. A tax of twelve pence per acre on each house 
lot was imposed to meet the expense. 

John Howe is supjjosed to have been the first white man 
who settled in Marlborough. He built a little cabin east of the 
Indian Planting Field, about one-third of a mile northeast of the 
Union Church, on the spot known as the Edward Rice farm. 
This was probably in 1657 or 1658. 

Edmund Rice had his home were the City Hall no\\- stands. 

William Ward lived on what is now known as the Hayden 
Farm, off West Main street. 

John W^oods, Senior, lived on the Southboro road. 

John Maynard lived on the Israel Howe farm, west of John 
Woods' place. 

Jonathan Johnson's house lot was directly opposite the 
High School Common, and was given him on condition that he 
should reside in town a specified time, and do the smith-work 
for the people. 

John Ruddocke's home was where the Joseph Howe house 
now stands on the west side of Mechanic street. He was one of 
the wealthiest and best educated men in town. His was the first 
frame house built in town. The original frame now forms a 
part of the house occupied by Mrs. William Waugh, Mechanic 
street, 

Christopher Bannister's house lot was north of John Rud- 
docke's. 

John Barrett li\ed north of, and on the land adjoining, 
Christopher Bannister's, directly opposite the W. V. Gleasoi^ 
place on Hii(lson street, 



COL'KSli IN" HI.STOKS . 



Al)rahani Howe lixed on the spot where the Pleasant-street 
schoolhoase now stands. (Hon. S. H. Howe is a direct 
descendant of his. ) 

Edward Rice lived a little cast of the place now known as 
the Otis Russell place. 

Thomas Rice lived north of Lake Williams not far from 
the Moses Howe place. 

William Kerly li\ed at the lower end of what is now 
known as South street. 

Richard Ward li\ed near the present residence of Chandler 
Fay. 

Samuel Brigham li^e(l where Mr. h rancis C. Curtis now 
resides, on East Main Street. 

Thomas Bri<jham lived in the westerly part of the town on 
the Northlioro road on the place now occupied by Charles H. 
Landry, the baker. The old part of the house occupied l)y Mr. 
Landry is said to be the oldest house now standing- in town. 

John Bent and Peter Bent lived where the William Stevens 
house now stands. 

Richard Barnes lived where Charles Jones now resides. 
Abraham Williams lived where the Williams Tavern 
(Gates House) now stands. 

Thomas Goodnow resided on the spot where E. E. Allen 
now lives on Ash street. 

The first settlers of Marlborough were very severe in their 
punishments and were very rigid regarding religious observances. 
Some of their punishments were as follows : — Men were public- 
ly whipped for shooting birds on Sunday ; also for idleness and 
intemperance. They were fined for lying and for disorderly 
living. The tongue was put into a cleft stick as a punishment 
for cursing and swearing. For being intoxicated, a man was 
made to stand in the public highway with a paper pinned to his 
back bearing the words, "A Drunkard." In one case a man 
had his ears cut off for speaking against the church and the 
government. 

They were very simple in their dress, and Itoth men and 



8 COUIlSii IN lUstoUV 



women wcrt.- tOrhiddni to \\c;ir ;iii\tliiiiL; luil ihc j)l;iiiK'sl ot 
clothing-. 

'Phf use ot" the stocks was one nietliod ot punishment. 
Thev were made ot planks joined to^etlier by ;i sort of hinge at 
one end and so arranged that thev could he opened and closed at 
will. rhe edges ot the plank where thev came together were 
cut or roundetl out so as to admit the wrists, ankles, and some- 
times the necks of the offenders. When a jirisoner was put into 
the stocks, he was held securely until they were unlocked. 
These stocks were often jilaced under the stairs of the meeting- 
house, where the peojile who were to he punished were set on 
Sunday so they could he seen by those who came to church. 
The records of the General Court show many instances wliere 
towns were fined for not ])ro\ iding sti)cks in which to set 
disorderlv persons. 

When Marlborough was Hrst settled, the ''Connecticut 
Way," or road, ran through the town. Over this road, called 
by the people the ''great road," the first line of mail coaches was 
run by Capt. Pease, and it was o\er this road that General Wash- 
ngton passed in 1789, when he stopped and dined at the old Wil- 
liams tavern. At the head of the procession rode a gentleman 
who acted as guide. He was dressed in uniform and rode a 
dapple-gray horse. Behind him rode two aids, also in uniform, 
and mounted on gray horses. Next came two negro boys riding 
bay horses attached to a carriage in which sat Washington. 
Following the carriage was a baggage wagon drawn by a pair 
of gray horses. He was met at the Tavern by a committee for 
the purpose of making arrangements for his reception in Boston. 
The table from which he dined is now owned by Miss lAzyAe 
Holyoke, who bought it at auction of the Gates family. 

After the first church that stood on the High School Com- 
mon was burned by the Indians in 1636, anothei' was built on 
the same spot. This stood until 1688, when a larger one was 
built near the same place. This stood for more than a hundred 
years, or until aliout the \ear 18r>6, when a di\ision occurred, 



COURSE IN HISTORY. 



and two meeting-houses were built, — one at Spring Hill and 
the other in the West Part. 

The oldest burying ground, or '^ church yard," as it was 
called, is in the rear of the High School Building. Many of the 
first settlers are buried here, and among them several soldiers of 
the Revolution. Capt. Hutchinson, the first person buried here, 
was shot by treacherous Indians August 2nd, 1675. 

GRADE VI. 

The Indians in Marlborough \\-ere a branch of the Natick or 
Wamesit tribes, who were located on the Merrimac, where the 
city of Lowell now stands. These Indians were generally peac- 
able, and were disposed to live on good terms with the English. 
The fact that they had planting grounds indicated that they were 
more advanced in civilization than most of the savage tribes. 
This was chiefly due to their belonging to the tribes of Indians 
who had been under the teachings of John Eliot. 

Eliot was born in England in 1604, and came to America in 
1631. He became much interested in the Indians, and in 1645 
began preaching to them. To prepare himself for the work he 
learned their language, and translated the Bible into the Indian 
language. He visited most of the Indian settlements, gaining 
the confidence of the tribes, and established churches among 
them. Their worship was conducted after the manner of the 
Puritans, "the menkind sitting by themselves, and the women- 
kind by themselves, according to their age, quality, and degree." 
They also established a form of local government, and elected 
their overseers, constables, and other officers after the manner of 
English people. 

They were called "The Praying Indians,' and they lived 
in what now are the towns of Natick, Stoughton, Marlborough, 
Lowell, Grafton, Littleton, and Hopkniton. The first Indian 
church was established in Natick in 1660. The Indians, as we 
have seen, were in possession of a great many acres of valuable 
lafid. The English naturally wished to get possession of this 



10 COURSE IN HISTORY 



land which adjoined theirs. The Indians were jealous of the 
white people, whose population and wealth were rapidly increas- 
ing, yet they lived together in comparative peace and friend- 
ship. 

In 1675, Philip, the chief of the Wampanoags, planned to 
dri\e the white people away. He feared that if they were al- 
lowed to remain they would, in time, get possession of all the 
land. He went among all the different tribes of Indians, and 
induced them to engage in a war. The white people all over 
New England were attacked. There was safety nowhere. The 
Indians went from town to town, luirning the dwellings of the 
white people, often attacking them in the dead of night and 
butchering them. They often shot down men while at work in 
the fields, and carried women and children into captivity. 

Thinking that Marlborough would be attacked, the white 
people held a meeting in October, 1G7.5, to prepare themselves. 
At this meeting they agreed to. build garrisons or forts for safety 
in case the Indians should attack the town. Nine garrisons were 
established and maintained, as follows: At William Keely's 
there should be a garrison, and two soldiers allowed by the gov- 
ment should be stationed there ; and, in case of danger, nine citi- 
zens should repair to the place. This garrison was at the south- 
ern end of what is now South street. 

At Jonathan Johnson's house there should be nine soldiers 
and three of the citizens. (Opposite High School Common.) 

At Deacon Ward's garrison there should be three soldiers 
and six citizens. (Residence of Chandler Fay.) 

At Sergeant Wood's house there should be two soldiers and 
six citizens. (Road to Southboro.) 

At Abraham Williams' house there should be three soldiers 
stationed. (Williams Tavern.) 

At Joseph Rice's house there should be three citizens. 

At Thomas Rice's house two soldiers and six citizens should 
be stationed. (Residence of Mr. Hinckley.) 

At Peter Bent's house three soldiers should be stationed. 
(William Stevens's house.) 



COURSE IN HISTORY. 11 

The government stationed the soldiers in the various garri- 
sons of the town. They remained for a short time and guarded 
the town, when, for various reasons, thinking that the Indians 
would not attack Marlborough, the soldiers withdrew to their 
homes, much to the regret of the white people, who still feared 
an attack. 

Within four Jays after the soldiers left, the Indians made 
their appearance. This was on Sunday morning, March 26^ 
1676. The people were assembled in the church, and Rev. Mr. 
Brimsmead had prayed for safety and protection, and a hymn 
had been sung. He had just begvm his sermon, when he was 
startled by the cry, " The Indians are upon us." The meeting 
was at once broken up, and the people all ran to the nearest gar- 
rison, where they arrived just in time to escape the sa\age foe. 
Moses Newton, son of Richard Newton, one of the thirteen 
original proprietors of the town, seeing an old lady who could 
not run as rapidly as the others, went to"her-aid, and helped her 
into the garrison. In doing this he received a wound in the 
elbow, from the effects of which he never recovered. 

Being in the garrison the people could defend themselves, 
but could not protect their property. Thirteen houses and eleven 
barns were burned, fences were torn down, fruit trees were 
hacked and peeled, and the cattle were killed. The church and 
the house of the Rev. Mr. 13rimsmead were among the buildings 
burned. Many of the inhabitants left Marlborough and went to 
Watertown, Concord, and other towns that were less exposed. 

After the attack upon Marlborough, the Indians, numbering 
about three hundred, retired to the woods and encamped for the 
night. Lieut. Jacobs, of the garrison of Marlborough, deter- 
mined to surprise them in camp. Accordingly on the night of 
the twenty-seventh, with a party of his men and a portion of the 
citizens of the town, he attacked them when tliey were wrapped 
in sleep, and killed and wounded about forty, sustaining no loss 
himself. The Indians, it seems, determined to punish the white 
people for f^''.:-, attacking them; for, on tli€ 17th of April, the 
.,- -.,_,.,( n'linber of Indians which had appea^EetV iu this neighbor- 



12 COURSE IN HISTORY. 



hood attacked Sudbury. The portion of Sudbury which was 

-attacked is now the town of Wayland. Although the white 

Ipeople fought desperately, the Indians, by setting fire to the 

Voods, drove them into such a position that they were able to 

kill or capture most of them. Capt. Brocklebank and Capt. 

Wadsvvorth were among the killed. The loss of these brave 

men and so many of their gallant followers spread grief and 

consternation through Marlborough and the neighboring towns. 

So great was the dismay that the settlement was substantially 

broken up, most of the families remo\ing to the older towns for 

safety. 

After the victory of the Indians at Sudbury, the tide of war 
seemed to turn against them. Finally, Philip, who had 
fled to Mt. Hope in Rhode Island, was killed in a swamp by a 
friendly Indian who was with Capt. Church. With the death of 
Philip the hope of the Indians fled, and the war was practically 
over. This war lasted fourteen months, and during this time 
the towns of Brookfield, Lancaster, Marlborough, Medfleld, 
Sudbury, Springfield, Weymouth, Chelmsford, Groton, Deer- 
field, Hatfield, Hadley, Northfield, Andover, Scituate, Bridge- 
water, Plymouth, and many other places were wholly or partial- 
ly destroyed. It is estimated that about six hundred white 
soldiers and citizens were killed in the war and six hundred 
dwellings burned. This war is considered the most terrible and 
bloody of any of the Indian wars in our history. 

The white people who had left Marlborough during the 
war returned at its close, and in 1677 a town-meeting was called 
and they again elected officers and attended to the town business. 
Among the first things to receive attention after the choice 
of officers was the providing of another place of worship. They 
accordingly erected a new^ meeting-house, which, like the former 
one, was thatched with straw. This house was located on the old 
spot, and being left in an unfinished condition, it lasted but a 
few years. In 1688 a new church was built which was consid- 
ered very grand for those days. This church stood for one 
hundred and twenty years. 



COUKSK IN mSIORY. 13 



It was not until 1^47 that any very active measures concern- 
ing education were taken. It was then ordered by the General 
Court that every township numbering fifty householders should 
appoint a school master to teach their children to read and write 
and "cast accounts." A school master was employed in Marl- 
borough as early as 1696, and in 1698 a school house was 
built and Jonathan Johnson was employed as teacher. A little 
later there appears to have been some iieglect on the part of the 
town, for in 1701 the inhabitants were fined for not comply- 
ing with the law in this respect, and from that time the children 
were provided with teachers. 

In 1702 John Holman was paid seven pounds for teaching 
the children four months. 

For several years there were but two school houses, and 
many of the children attended schools in private houses. 

In 1790 there were seven school districts or "squadrons," 
and each district had a school for fifteen weeks each year. 

In 1834 Marlborough appropriated the sum of $900 for 
schools. 

In 1826 some enterprising citizens, wishing for greater 
advantages for their children than the district school afforded, 
obtained a charter and established an academy. In 1827 a build- 
ing w^as erected on the site of the old first meeting-house where 
now stands the High School. Silas Gates and his son. Abra- 
ham, gave $1000 each by will, the interest of which was applied 
to the salary of the preceptor. This money is the present 
"Gates Fund," the income of which is used to purchase supplies 
for the science department of the High School. On accoiuU of 
these legacies the school was called the -'Gates Academy."' 

It flourished but a few years as a private academy an<l in 
1851. by consent of the b.eirs, Mr. and Mrs. Stephen R. Phelixs, 
it became a public High School, and Mr. O- W. Albc who 
had taught for a short time in the academy, was re'ained as the 
principal, which position he C(jntinue(l to fill accepUibly lor a 



uartcr of a century 



14 



COURSE IN HISTORY. 



GRADE VII. 

Although Marlborough was not the scene of any battles 
during the French and Indian Wars, the savages in many 
instances stole through the township and carried several 
persons into captivity. In many cases the people were com- 
pelled to desert their farms, leaving their lands untilled while 
they flockeH to their garrisons as their only means of safety. 

King William's War began in 1690. William was the 
King of England. Louis XIV was King of France. Louis 
declared war aga'nst William. The people who had settled in 
that part of America now called the "United States" were sub- 
jects of King William. The people in Canada had come from 
France and were subjects of King Louis. When Louis had 
declared war against William, he sent word to his people in 
Canada to make war upon the English people who had settled 
in Massachusetts, Connecticut and the other colonies. This 
"war lasted se\en years, and many Indians fought with the 
Freajch against the English. They frequently came down from 
Caiaada and surprised towns in the dead of nigiit, killed the 
inhabitants and burned their houses. In Lancaster on the 18th 
of juJy, 1692, a party of Indians assaulted the house of Peter 
Josliii, who was working in the field, killed his wife, three 
children, and a widow residing with the family. Elizabeth 
Howe of Marlborough, the granddaughter of John Howe, the 
first white settler of Marlborough, was at the house visiting Mrs. 
Joslin, who was a sister of hers. 

Slie, with one of the Joslin children, was carried into 
captivity. The child was murdered in the wilderness, but Mrs. 
Howe was kept as a captive four years, when she was redeemed 
by the government. After she returned to her friends, she was 
married to Thomas Keyes to whom she was engaged before her 
capture. She never fully recovered from the shock of terror 
she experienced at the time she was made a prisoner, although 
she lived to the age of eighty- seven years. King William's 
War lasted until 1697. Peace lasted only five years. In 1702 



COURSE IN HISTORY. 15 



•Queen Anne ascended the throne of England, and the 
French in Canada and the English colonists in America 
were once more engaged in fighting against each 
other. The Indians in Can.ula assisted the French, and 
often came down with them upon the English, as they had 
done during King William's War. On the 31st of July, 1704, 
Capt. Thomas Howe of Marlborough, hearing that the town 
had been suddenly attacked by a body of six or seven hundred 
French and Indians, gathered what men he could and marched 
to Lancaster. After a severe fight in which the English dis- 
played great gallantry, owing to the large number of the 
enemy, they were compelled to seek refuge in the garrison. In 
the engagement Capt. Howe had two men killed — Abraham 
Howe and l>enjamin Hutchins — and others wounded. 

August 8th, 1704, a party of Indians, eight or ten in num- 
ber, rushed suddenly from the woods, and fell upon a number 
of inhabitants who were working in the field. The place where 
they made the attack is now called Westborough. They killed 
Nahor, son of Mr. Edmund Rice, and carried into captivity his 
two sons, Silas and Timothv. Thcv also made captives of 
Ashur and Adonijah, the two sons of Thomas Rice. Ashur 
was redeemed by his father and returned in about four years. 
He afterwards settled in Spencer. Adonijah remained in Can- 
ada and cultivated a farm in Montreal. The two sons of Ed- 
mund Rice lived with the Indians, married Indian wives, ac- 
quired their habits, and lost all knowledge of the English lan- 
guage. Timothy became a chief. Years after his captivity he 
visited his relations in Westborough and retained, it is said, a 
distinct recollection of the circumstances of his capture. He 
also remembered many of the old people of the tow^n. 

On the 5th of October, 1705, Mr. John Bigelowof Marlbo- 
rough was in Lancaster at the garrison house of Thomas Sawyer. 
He, with Mr. Sawyer, was taken captive by the Indians and 
carried to Canada. Sawyer was a blacksmith and Bigelow was 
a carpenter. There being no saw-mill in Canada, they told the 
French governor that thay would build one if he would procure 



16 rOURSE IN HISTORY. 



their ransom. The offer was accepted, the mill was built, and 
after some delay, the men were allowed to return home. To 
show his gratitude at being restored to his family he named two 
daughters, born after his return. Comfort and Freedom. 

On the 18th of August, 1707, a tragical event occurred in 
that part of the township called Northborough. Among the 
garrison houses at that time was one known as Samuel Good- 
now's garrison, situated on the great road near the stream known 
as Stirrip Brook. As Mary Goodnow, daughter of Samuel 
Goodnow, and Mrs. Mary Fay, wife of Gershon Fay, were gath- 
ering herbs in an adjoining meadow, a party of twenty or more 
Indians were seen issuing from the woods and making towards 
them. They immediately ran for the fort which Mrs. Fay suc- 
ceeded in reaching and in closing the gate just in time to escape 
her pursuers. Fortunately there happened to be one man in the 
garrison, the rest being at work in the field. The Indians at- 
tempted to break into the garrison, but were not successful. 
Mrs. Fay loading the muskets belonging to the place and hand- 
ing them to her companion, he was able to keep up a constant 
fire upon the Indians until a party of their friends, hearing a re- 
port of their muskets, came to their relief, when the enemy fled. 
Miss Goodnow, being lame, was unable to escape from the 
Indians. They seized her and dragged her across the brook to 
a wood on the hillside where she was killed and scalped. Her 
mangled body was afterwards found and buried. On the next 
day Capt. Thomas Howe of Marlborough, with about twenty 
men, marched in pursuit of the Indians, and being joined by 
about the same number from Lancaster they overtook the enemy 
in what is now Sterling, where a severe fight ensued. The 
white people captured twenty-four packs belonging to the In- 
dians and drove them off the ground. In one of the packs was 
found the scalp of Mary Goodnow. This was the first knowl- 
edge they had of her fate. 

Encouraged by the General Court, the people had erected a 
number of forts into which they could flee in time of danger. 
These garrisons w ere mere pickets inclosing the houses and no ■ 



COURSE IN HISTORY. 17 

mark of their location would long remain ; still we know that 
there were twenty-six garrisons and that to each garrison were 
assigned two or more families. There was but little need of 
these forts, however, for a treaty of peace was made in 1713 and 
the war closed. 

During the French and Indian War, which began in IT-H^ 
Marlborough, like the other towns in Massachusetts, furnished a 
large number of men, a list of whom may be found in Hudson'^ 
History of Marlborough. 

Some of the Marlborough Indians were strongly suspected 
of having taken part against the white people in King Philip's 
war by giving information in regard to the condition of things in 
the town. This suspicion is strengthened by the fact that they 
were displeased with the white people for building their church 
upon a part of the Indian Planting Field. Capt. Moselev w as 
sent by the Government to bring them to Boston. He arri\ cd in 
Marlborough at midnight, surprised the Indians, and captured 
them without resistance. Their hands were tied behind tbeni 
and, connected by a rope, tliev were dri\en to Boston in conipanv 
with some of the Natick Indians, They were taken to one of 
the islands in Boston Harbor, wlierc it is said, ihev suffered great 
hardships. 

After the war was over some of the Marlborough Intlians 
returned to their former homes, but their plantation was in a 
measure broken up, and they were obliged to seek shelter w here 
they could. A large portion of those who returned li\ed in the 
western part of the town on the farm of Thomas Brigham. one 
of Marlborough's earliest settlers. Among those who returned 
was one named David Munnanow. He had been al^sent from 
Marlborough several months, and after his return ga\ e no 
account of himself. He was recognized, however, by a man 
from Medfield, who was in Marlborough on a visit, as being one- 
of the Indians concerned in the attack on Medfield. David had 
returned with a slit thundi, and it was on account of this that he 
was so quickly identified. At first he denied ha\ ing lieen with 
Philip, Init finally confessed, saying that he had been enticed; 



18 COURSE IN HISTORY. 



;away. The white people forgave him, and he was allowed to 
live in peace. He built a wigwam on the border of Lake Wil- 
liams near the Tavern, where he and his family lived for many 
years. 

How long the Indians had occupied their Planting Field 
before the place was known to the white men is uncertain, but 
probably they had lived there for a long time. On the northern 
slope of the hill, opposite the farm of Mr. William Howe, they 
undoubtedly had a burial place. 

Mr. Howe, the present owner of the hill, in excavating the 
earth in order to reset a wall, found a quantity of beads which 
had probably been buried with the wearer. He also found 
bones, arrow-heads, tomahawks and other articles that no doubt 
were once in possession of the Indians. 

Although the township was granted to the white people in 
1656 by the General Court, as the Indians who remained in Marl- 
borough after the war laid claim to the township, the white 
people, although not obliged to do so, paid them a sum of thirty- 
one pounds for a deed of the land. The original deed is in the 
liands of the city clerk. 

GRADE VIII. 

Marlborough took a prominent part in the Revolutionary 
War. Soon after the passage of the Stamp Act, the Legislature 

■of Massachusetts took alarm, and in 1768 petitioned the Crown 
for a redress of grievances. They also addressed a circular to 
the other colonies, requesting their aid in securing measures for 
redress. In all the movements in favor of liberty, Boston took 
the lead. Letters w^ere addressed to the other towns in the Pi-ov- 
ince, asking their co-operation and requesting them to send dele- 
gates to meet others from Boston in consultation. 

In answer to this call, Marlborough responded favorably, as 
appears by this record : " The town came into the following 
vote, that it is their opinion that what the town of Boston has 

•^done respecting the present difUculty is proper, and having 



COURSE IN mSTORV. 19 



accordingly chosen Mr. Samuel Witt to meet the committee of 
Boston at the time and place named and proposed." — (Marlbo- 
rough, September 19, 1768.) 

The oppressive acts of the British government drove the peo- 
ple to measures of self-defense, among which were the refusal to 
import and use taxed articles. This measure which originated 
in Boston was also adopted by the people of Marlborough. A 
special town meeting was held March 29, 1770, to act on the 
following article : " To see whether the town will do anything 
to strengthen the hands of the merchants in their non-importation 
agreement." John Warren was chosen moderator, and Heze- 
kiah Maynard, Peter Bent, and Robert Baker were made a com- 
mittee to consider the matter. After due deliberation they sub- 
mitted a spirited and patriotic report which was adopted by the 
town, transmitted to the Boston committee, and published in the 
Evening Post, a newspaper of the dav. These resolutions 
approved the action of the Boston merchants, pledged the sup- 
port of the town, condemned as "enemies to their country and 
posterity " those who refused to endorse the Non-Importation 
Agreement, and agreed to make public the names of all citizens 
■who continue to buy goods of the importers. At a subsequent 
meeting, Hezekiah Maynard, Peter Bent, Robert Baker, Alpheus 
Woods and Moses Woods were chosen a committee to carry out 
the provisions of the resolution. 

Another special town meeting was held December 21st, 
1772, and Hezekiah Maynard, Alpheus Woods, Edward Barnes, 
Jonas Morse and Daniel Harrington were chosen to draft in- 
structions to the representatives in the General Court and also to 
correspond with the Committee of Correspondence of Boston. 
The report of this committee consisted of a series of resolutions 
censuring the British government, and closed with the following : 
" Resolved, That every town, not only in this Province, but in 
all the British Colonies, and elsewhere in the British dominions, 
ought to furnish themselves with everything necessary that is law'- 
ful and commendable in the sight of God, in order to save and 
defend themsehes, and regain support and secure ourselves, 



20 COURSE IN HISTORY. 

property, liberties and privileges, civil and sacred, and that with- 
out any further delay." 

Other resolutions of a similar nature were adopted by the 
town in 1773. 

On the 20th of June, 1774, another town meeting was held 
to act on the following article : "To see what measures the 
town will come into respecting an Act passed by the British 
Parliament for blocking up the Harbor of Boston, and other 
Acts which ha\e passed and are in agitation respecting the Col- 
onies, or the Province of Massachusetts Bay in particular." 

After due consideration, a committee was appointed to draw 
up a covenant of non-consumption of British goods for the peo- 
ple to subscribe to at an adjourned meeting. At this meeting, 
after hearing the names of those who had refused to sign the cov- 
enant, the town, by vote, ordered that the names of those per- 
sons who had not signed, or who did not do so by the first of 
September following, should be published to the world bv the 
Committee of Correspondence of the town. 

At a meeting held September 2i), 1774, Peter Bent was 
elected representative, and the town instructed him as follows : 
"We hereby instruct you that you adhere strictly to the Charter 
of this Province, stipulated and agreed to between their jNIajesties, 
King William and Qiieen Mary and this Province, and that you 
pay no acknowledgment to any unconstitutional and new fangled 
counsellors, and that you do not give your consent to any act or 
thing that may be construed a tacit acknowledgment to any of 
the late oppressive, wicked and unjust Acts of the British Parlia- 
ment, for altering the Government of the Province of Massachu- 
setts Bay," 

In the meantime the town adopted measures to prepare for 
any exigency tha^ might arise. They directed the selectmen "to 
make an addition to the town's stock of anununition — powder, 
bullets and flint." They also united with neighboring towns in 
the choice of field officers and in reorganizing the militia. 

The town also adopted measures to carry into effect recom- 
mendations of tlie Continental and Pro\ incial Congresses, raised 



COURSE IX HISTORY. 21 

a company of minute men, provided for their drill and discipline, 
and offered them a bounty, provided they were called into 
service. 

In the spring of 1775, active preparations for war were made 
throughout the Province. In Marlborough, fifty-five additional 
guns, with bayonets, were procured ; drums were furnished to 
the companies ; blankets were procured for the minute-men, 
who were to be paid for the time spent in their weekly drill. 
While these preparations were going on, Go\ . Gage prorogued 
the Legislature, and the people substituted a Provisional Con- 
gress as a government of the people themselves. In this 
Provisional government Marlboro was represented by Edward 
Barnes, Peter Bent, and George Brigham, some of the most 
substantial and patriotic citizens, who justly represented the 
sentiment of the town. 

In March, 1776, the town chose a committee of seven of the 
prominent men "to devise ways and means for the manufacture 
of saltpetre in private families," as preparatory to the manufac- 
ture of gunpowder. 

At a meeting held May 28, 1776, the town voted, "that if 
the Honorable Continental Congress shall, for the safety of the 
United Colonies, declare them independent of the Kingdom of 
Great Britain, we, the inhabitants of Marlborough, will solemnly 
engage, with our lives and fortunes, to support them in the 
measure." 

On the 19th of April, 1775, on hearing of the march of the 
British troops from Boston, and of the engagement at Lexington, 
four companies of minute-men marched from Marlborough. A 
large number of Marlborough men served in the Revolution, 
and the town paid them liberal bounties for enlisting, and con- 
tributed toward the support of their families during their 
absence. 

GRADE IX. 

In April, 1861, on receiving the news of the attack on Fort 



12 COURSK IX HISTORY. 

Sumpter, inimetliately a large number of the leading citizens of 
all the political parties assembled and discussed the duty of the 
town in this emergency. They were of one mind in the opinion 
that prompt and hearty support was the only right policy ; conse- 
quently they urged the selectmen to call a town meeting for the fur- 
ther consideration of the matter. This meeting was held April ^y, 
1861, aivl, in response to the appeal of President Lincoln calling 
upon all Icnal citizens to support the Union, it was resohed, 
''That the citizens of Marlborough in legal town-meeting 
assembled, tender our cordial and united support to the govern- 
ment of the United States ; and pledge our lives and our fortunes 
for whate\er service our country may require." 

At a special town meeting held July 21, 1862, patriotic 
resolutions pre])ared by Hon. O. W. Albee were also adopted. 

The total number of men furnished by the town and actually 
engaged in the service was 869 ; 674 serving for three yeaas, 91 
for one year, 108 for nine months, and 96 for one hundred days^ 






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